Grand Capitals of the Middle East

Upon arrival, you’ll be met by our Cairo-based staff inside Passport Control who will assist you with all the immigration formalities – from obtaining your visa through baggage claim and customs. You’ll be chauffeured from the airport into the city in about 45 minutes.  In the Garden City district of Cairo, on the banks of the Nile River and next door to the American Embassy, you’ll check in to the 5-star Kempinski Nile Hotel. Our stylish and intimate boutique property is perfect for our small groups of never more than 16 guests. Settle in to your Nile-view guestroom and enjoy the rest of this day at leisure.

After an extensive buffet breakfast at the Kempinski, meet your Egyptologist in the lobby at 9 am to visit Cairo’s newest city-center showplace, the beautifully designed Museum of Egyptian Civilization that opened early in 2021. Not to be confused with the still un-opened Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, this museum is dedicated to the mummies and sarcophagi of the twenty greatest pharaohs during the golden age of Egyptian antiquity, including Ramses II and Queen Hatshepsut. Underground like the tombs you’ll soon see in the Valley of the Kings, each mummy is dramatically lit and displayed in its own room with a description of major events during their reigns. It’s very impressive.

We then head to Dahshur, south of Cairo, to explore the two pyramids, the ’bent’ pyramid and the ‘red pyramid,’ that served as architectural and engineering models for the Grand Pyramids of Giza that you’ll see tomorrow.  We’ll also delight in a lunch at a fine restaurant along the Nile. Meals B+L+D

The ancient world comes to life today as you explore with our expert Egyptologist, setting out from the Kempinski at 8:00 this morning. Physicists at the University of Amsterdam recently put forth a theory on how the Great Pyramids were built… Behold these amazing structures and evaluate their ideas for yourself! Then behold the watchful gaze of the Sphinx. 

Around midday, we’ll enjoy an excellent lunch and then continue to Memphis, the site of Egypt’s ancient capital. Marvel at the formidable Colossus of Ramses II, on display in a small museum dedicated to this ancient wonder, and then see the beautiful Alabaster Sphinx, discovered just a century ago. At nearby Sakkara, you’ll see the world’s oldest standing stone structure, the impressive Step Pyramid of King Zoser. You’ll also be among the few to admire the vibrant drawings and inscriptions in the 4,000-year-old Tomb of Mehu – opened recently for specially arranged visitors for the first time in many decades.

You’ll be back at your luxury hotel around 5:00pm, giving you time to refresh before enjoying dinner at your hotel. Meals B+L+D

After a sumptuous buffet breakfast, you’ll depart the hotel at 8:00 am to begin your exploration of Cairo. We begin the day at the monumental Refaai Mosque near the Citadel. Purpose built as a magnificent mosque and a mausoleum for Egyptian royalty, we’ll visit the tomb chambers of the last Egyptian monarch, King Farouk, and the last Shah of Iran who could not be returned to Iran following his expulsion during the Revolution. We’ll continue to explore Old Cairo before enjoying lunch.

To avoid crowds of visitors, we’ll enter the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities with our fine Egyptologist in mid-afternoon for a guided tour through the largest repository of ancient artifacts in the world, including those from the tomb of King Tut. (When the Grand Egyptian Museum opens, we’ll see an even greater collection of artifacts.) You’ll be back at your luxury hotel around 5:00pm, giving you time to refresh before enjoying dinner at your hotel.   Meals B+L+D

After an early breakfast, you’ll be taken to the airport for your included flight to Luxor where you’ll board the luxurious and intimate, new 48-cabin Historia, docked privately away from other ships.  Settle in to your spacious and stylish stateroom and then join your fellow passengers for lunch in the ship’s inviting restaurant.

In mid-afternoon, you’ll go ashore to visit two of Egypt’s celebrated sites of antiquity, beginning with the great Karnak Temple. With our skilled Egyptologist leading the way, you’ll stand before its massive pillars and admire the grand Hypostyle Hall; encompassing more than 50,000 square feet, this is the largest hall of any temple in the world. Your sightseeing continues at the nearby Luxor Temple, built in the 14th century BC and connected to the Karnak complex by the awe-inspiring, newly restored Avenue of Sphinxes. The temple walls of Luxor are embellished with skillful carvings of the Gods of Karnak accompanied by a festival procession of priests, musicians, dancers and sacred cows. With keen insight from our Egyptologist, today’s sightseeing offers a fascinating look into the culture and beliefs of ancient Egypt. Return to the ship for Tea in the Lounge, with time to refresh before this evening’s welcome cocktail reception and a la carte dinner.  Meals B+L+D

The Historia enjoys privileged private docking facilities along the Nile, allowing you to step off efficiently and easily - going ashore apart from the cluster of other ships and their passengers.

Focusing on the amazing sites of the West Bank, you’ll begin your exploration early this morning in the fabled Valley of Kings. Here, the pharaohs of the 18th Dynasty abandoned the pyramid tradition of Dahshur and Giza in favor of tombs built deep in the mountainside. Each pharaoh also constructed a mortuary temple at the edge of the valley, some distance away from the actual tombs. Sixty four ancient Egyptian rulers are buried here, but only a handful of the temples remain, including Madinat Habu - the tomb of Ramses III with its impressive exterior walls. The fabled final resting place of King Tutankhamen and the fabulously decorated tomb of Ramses VI are also among the highlights awaiting our exploration here in the Valley.

Also fascinating, we’ll visit the ancient Egyptian village of Deir el-Medina. More than 3,000 years ago during the New Kingdom period, this community was home to the thousands of artisans and laborers who constructed the tombs and temples in the Valley of Kings. In addition to this unusual archaeological site, your morning sightseeing also includes the Colossi of Memnon, two towering statues of Amenhotep III that stand like guards along the road to the Valley of Kings.

Return to the ship at midday and enjoy lunch onboard as our luxury vessel continues its journey toward Esna. This afternoon, you might wish to be on deck as the Historia traverses through the Esna Lock. Afternoon tea and passing vistas of the Nile Valley landscapes with their small village hamlets and timeless scenes of life highlight the afternoon. Dinner will be served this evening at 7:30 as we continue navigating up the Nile toward Edfu.  Meals B+L+D

After breakfast and a leisurely morning onboard, you’ll join our engaging Egyptologists ashore in Edfu to explore the Temple of Horus, considered by many scholars to be the best-preserved cult temple in all of Egypt. Built in the Ptolemaic era between 237 and 57 BCE, later than many of the other sites along the Nile, it is still a stunning example of traditional Pharaonic architecture and ranks as the second largest temple in Egypt – after the great Karnak Temple. Rich in design, intricate in detail and ingenious in its massive construction, the extraordinary quality of every element here attests to the paramount importance of the falcon-headed Horus.

Return to the ship and enjoy lunch onboard as we chart a course for Kom Ombo. Throughout this pleasant afternoon of cruising the Nile, you can retreat to your stateroom or delight in the passing scenery as you enjoy the convivial company of your fellow passengers, either in the air-conditioned lounge or on deck. Following Afternoon Tea, you’ll step off at our ship’s private pier to explore the Temple of Kom Ombo. Built on a picturesque bend in the Nile, where crocodiles used to sun themselves, this unusual dual-deity temple of the Ptolemaic Period is dedicated to both Haroeris (one of the oldest forms of the falcon-headed God Horus) and, appropriately enough, the fearsome Crocodile God Sobek. Return to ship with time to refresh before dinner is served at 7:30. Meals B+L+D

Following breakfast, we’ll join our Egyptologist for a comfortable drive across the Egyptian Desert on a new highway heading to one of the most impressive sights of antiquity, the temples of Ramses II. We’ll enjoy a fine lunch at a family-run restaurant on the shore of Lake Nasser and then walk a short distance to a small boat that will take us along the shoreline to see these majestic temples from the water.  We’ll then explore them by land.

With our expert Egyptologist, you’ll behold 67-foot-high figures of the King and his wife, Nefertari, and hear the dramatic story of how they were moved 200 feet above their original site to protect them from the rising waters of the Aswan Dam. This engineering feat by UNESCO to relocate and protect this architectural wonder was so successful and precise that twice a year, on February 22 and October 22, the rays of the rising sun pierce the temple entrance and reach deep into the heart of the temple – just 24 hours later than the original plan! In addition to its famous statues, the interior hall is decorated with amazing relief carvings that depict a great battle won by Ramses.

Following our exploration, we’ll return to our Nile cruiser for a delightful dinner.  Meals B+L+D

We’ll disembark this morning after breakfast. In contrast to the ancient wonders of Cairo and the Nile, the remarkable High Dam at Aswan is an achievement that belongs to modern Egypt. With enriching insight and narration, you’ll explore this engineering marvel; completed in 1970 at a cost of about $1 billion, it spans more than 2 miles and towers 300 feet. This morning’s excursion also includes a visit by boat to the Temple of Philae, rescued from the rising waters of Lake Nasser after the completion of the High Dam. Now situated on a lovely island, the earliest elements of this impressive complex include a small temple built around 370 BCE and dedicated to the Goddess Isis.

We’ll board another comfortable motor boat for a brief but scenic journey to visit the Nubian Museum. Designed by the award-winning Egyptian architect Mahmoud al-Hakim, the building reflects traditional elements of Nubian architecture; inside, its carefully curated exhibits include temple, tomb and dwelling artifacts from the ancient Nubian civilization that thrived here along Nile River as far back as 2000 BCE.

Later, we fly back to Cairo for a last overnight at the airport’s stylish Le Meridien Hotel in Club Rooms.  You’ll gather for a farewell dinner in the conveniently located hotel. Meals B+L+D

Today you’ll bid adieu to Egypt as you are chauffeured to check-in for your flight to Tel Aviv. On arrival in Israel, you’ll be warmly greeted and assisted through baggage claim and arrival formalities, and then escorted to the Drisco Hotel. Established in 1866 and now a member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World, our luxury heritage hotel is set in two historic landmarks built by American settlers in the 19^th century. Meals B

Today is free to explore on your own. We gather for a welcome dinner at the hotel this evening. Meals D

 

This morning’s sightseeing begins in Jaffa, or Joppa, an ancient waterfront in Tel Aviv from which Jonah embarked for his confrontation with a whale. An important seaport since early times, Jaffa’s lively streets still offer a palpable sense of the ancient traders who came here by sea and caravan in biblical eras. Continue along Rothschild Boulevard to see the distinctive White City of Tel Aviv. Founded in 1909 and developed under the British Mandate in Palestine, this outstanding example of innovative, early 20th-century town planning is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site - recognized as a fine architectural ensemble of the European Modern Movement in a new cultural context.

From Tel Aviv, you’ll journey northward along the coast to the ancient city of Caesarea. Built by Herod the Great and once the seat of Roman rule, its excavated highlights include an impressive theater and an ancient aqueduct that brought water to the city. Enjoy learning about ancient Megiddo before continuing to Cana to see the Wedding Church where it’s said that Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine. In Nazareth, you’ll visit the Basilica of the Annunciation. The current 60-year-old landmark you’ll admire today is the fifth church built on the same site. The first was likely a simple 4th-century alter set in the grotto that was believed to be the site of Mary’s house. Many historians maintain that the first actual Church of the Annunciation was commissioned by Emperor Constantine and completed in 470 AD. Continue to the Upper Galilee and check in to the luxury Mitzpe Hayamim Hotel overlooking the Sea.  Meals B+D

After breakfast, you’ll proceed to Tabgha to admire the fine mosaics at the Church of the Multiplication, the site of Christ’s feeding loaves and fishes to an audience of 5,000 pilgrims and the site of the third resurrection appearance of Jesus. We’ll drive on to the Golan Heights and continue touring the archaeological site of Caesarea Philippi at the foot of Mt. Hermon. Built around a spring, one of the main sources of the Jordan River, this Greco-Roman city was in ancient times associated with the Greek God Pan before its ancient reconstruction by Philip, the son of King Herod. It was here that Saint Peter proclaimed his faith in Jesus and declared him ‘the rock’ on which he would build his church. You’ll ascend the Golan Heights for sweeping views over Syria before visiting a Druze family for a Galilean cooking class featuring local olive oil, lemons and hand-picked grape leaves. We’ll enjoy the resulting lunch together before continuing on to Tiberias. There you’ll board a small boat for a ride across the calm waters of the Sea of Galilee, the same waters Jesus crossed with his disciples 2,000 years ago.  Meals B+L+D

After breakfast at the Mitzpe Hayamim Hotel, you’ll drive to picturesque Safed/Tzfat, an ancient and renowned center of Jewish mysticism, one of Judaism’s four sacred cities. The highest hilltop city in the Galilee and all of Israel, you’ll walk the winding cobblestone streets of the Old Town and its Artist’s Colony before exploring the underground tunnels discovered during excavations. Continue on to a local winery for a tour and tasting before traveling south through the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem. At arrival, take in spectacular views of the city from atop the Mount of Olives before we move on to Mt. Zion and visit both King David’s tomb and the Cenacle, the Upper Room traditionally thought to be the site of the Last Supper. You’ll then check-in to the 5-star Inbal Hotel overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem for the next four nights. Tonight, gather with a local accomplished chef for dinner.  Meals B+D

A Holy City for three of the world’s great religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – Jerusalem occupies a unique place in humanity. Enter the Old City and stand before the Temple Mount and the Western Wall - the holiest of Jerusalem’s Jewish sites, sacred because it is a surviving remnant of the Herodian retaining wall that once enclosed and supported the Second Temple. (Subject to approval of authorities at the time of travel, visit Temple Mount revered by Jews, Muslims and Christians.  Originally, it was the site of the two great Temples of Jerusalem and now the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.) Continue along the winding streets of the ancient Jewish Quarter to visit the historic Hurva Synagogue. Destroyed in 1948 during the Arab-Israeli War, it was rebuilt and dedicated in 2010 according to its original 19th-century style.

Walk along the Via Dolorosa to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on what was called the Hill of Golgotha, recognized as the site of the crucifixion, and then continue to the lively Arab Bazaar.  You’ll end at the colorful Mahane Yehuda Market; established nearly a century ago, it’s still the largest openair market in Israel. Engage with friendly vendors and mingle with the city’s rich mosaic of residents as our guide shares insight into Israel’s modern food scene and enduring traditions. And with a provided Bites Card, you’ll be able to sample exotic Middle Eastern delicacies from the shopkeepers’ daily specials.

After free time, this evening we’ll take you to the Tower of David, an ancient citadel near the Jaffa Gate entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City. As darkness envelops the site, a spectacular Sound and Light Show unfolds with breathtaking virtual reality images and sophisticated trompe l’oeil technology to tell the story of Jerusalem. Meals B+L

Following breakfast, you’ll visit Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Founded in 1953 as the international center for the documentation, research, education and commemoration of the Holocaust, Yad Vashem remains a dynamic and vital place dedicated to safeguarding the memory of the past and imparting its meaning to future generations. Continuing, you’ll also visit the recently renovated Israel Museum where the dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited, as well as a large model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period under the occupation of Rome. Established in 1965, the Israel Museum is the largest cultural institution in the country and is ranked as one of the leading archeological museums in the world.

Then travel to Bethlehem where we’ve arranged for you to have lunch in the home of a Palestinian Christian family. With a tempting variety of Middle Eastern salads and appetizers and a main course, this congenial lunch is enhanced by lively conversation with your hosts – and a chance to gain genuine insight into their lives. Then visit the Nativity Church, the oldest standing church in the Holy Land. Originally built in the 4th century by St. Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine, the present 6th-century structure was erected by Justinian. Meals B+L

After breakfast, you’ll embark on a full day excursion to explore the region of the Dead Sea; at nearly 1,400 feet below sea level, it’s the lowest point on Earth. Leaving the city behind you, you’ll drive past the site of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Visit the Kibbutz Ein Gedi and its noteworthy garden, located on the edge of the Judean Desert and along the west coast of the Dead Sea.  This picturesque place is the only inhabited botanical garden in the world.

Continue to Masada, where you ascend by cable car to visit the hilltop ruins and hear the thrilling tale of its brave inhabitants. Overlooking the Judean Desert and Dead Sea, Masada is a natural fortress of rugged beauty. Atop this strategic site, Herod the Great built a palace complex in the classic style of the early Roman Empire. In 73 A.D., it was the site of a violent clash where Jewish patriots made their heroic last stand in the face of an overwhelming Roman army. Today, the fortifications and attack ramp that encircle the monument are the most complete Roman siege works surviving to the present day.

Your next stop is the Dead Sea.  Be sure to bring your swimsuit as you’ll enjoy lunch and time for a swim – or maybe just a relaxing float in the buoyant therapeutic waters. On your return journey to Jerusalem, you’ll stop to see Wadi Qelt and its 5th-century Monastery of St. George, still inhabited by monks and built into the side of a cliff. Back in Jerusalem, our farewell dinner is this evening.  Meals B+L+D

Today you depart for the Allenby Bridge to cross the Jordan River into Jordan. To expedite crossing, we’ve arranged VIP services on both sides of the bridge, Israeli and Jordanian. After you bid farewell to your Israeli trip leader, you’ll be welcomed into Jordan, met by your driver and chauffeured to your hotel in Amman for check in.

After breakfast and check out, you’ll join our engaging Jordanian Trip Leader to start your foray into history – starting with Jerash. Just 45 minutes north of the capital, Jerash is celebrated as the best-preserved provincial Roman city in the world – and fondly referred to as the Pompeii of the East. Enter through the imposing triple-arched gateway built to honor Emperor Hadrian and then explore a wealth of ancient sites including the impressive Oval Plaza and Temple of Zeus.
 
Then set out along the historic King’s Way, a trade route of vital importance in the ancient Near East. Traveling southward, you’ll make your way to Madaba where you’ll visit St. George Church to see an incredible 6th-century mosaic depicting Biblical sites from Egypt to Palestine; with 157 Greek captions, it is the oldest-known map of the Holy Land. Then sit down to a home-cooked meal in a restored century-old residence before ascending Mt. Nebo, the traditional burial site of Moses. At the summit, with its panoramic views of the Jordan Valley, there stands a Franciscan structure that was erected to protect the remains of a 4th-century Byzantine church. Continue along the King’s Highway to Petra and check in to the deluxe Mövenpick Hotel, ideally located across from the visitor’s entrance. Before bidding farewell for the evening, your Trip Leader will be happy to assist with suggestions and assistance for dining on your own this evening. Meals B+L

Mighty Petra  was a strategic link in ancient caravan routes and is still stunningly preserved after nearly 2,000 years. Built by the Nabataeans and later abandoned, it was lost to civilization for centuries until its re-discovery by a Swiss adventurer. The entire city is carved into the sides of a deep gorge, and the only entrance is through a narrow opening called the Siq. This morning, as your Trip Leader leads you into Petra from between these 100-foot cliffs, a remarkable vista will unfold before you. Temples, tombs and dwellings chiseled out of the solid, rose-hued stone. Over the next 3 hours, your expertly-guided tour of Petra includes the famous Treasury and other ancient monuments like the haunting Street of Facades and the Roman Theater. After your guided tour, you can linger on to explore more of the Valley at your own pace: Numerous tombs, large and small residences, temples, bathhouses and other public spaces offer fascinating insight into what life was like when Petra was a thriving city. We’ve included full-day entry, so you can even return to the Mövenpick Hotel to relax or have lunch before returning later in the afternoon to continue your independent exploration.
 
This evening, we’ll take you to the Petra Kitchen for a hands-on culinary experience. Working alongside local villagers under the supervision of a skilled chef, you’ll prepare a variety of traditional Jordanian dishes. It’s a congenial, enriching and fun evening. Enjoy the bounty of your labors when you sit down with fellow travelers for a wonderful well-earned dinner!  Meals B+D

Check out after breakfast and join your Trip Leader for today’s adventure that takes you deep into the captivating landscapes of Wadi Rum, immortalized in the epic film Lawrence of Arabia. Traveling in comfortable 4WD vehicles, you’ll discover a remote region where sandstone and granite mountains rise sheer-sided from wide sandy valleys to reach spectacular heights of 4,000 feet and more. At Khazali Canyon, you’ll enjoy a guided 20-minute hike to see ancient Nabataean inscriptions and drawings. Sit down to a traditional Bedouin lunch with a local family before returning to the W Hotel in Amman.  Meals B+L

You’ll be escorted to the airport today for your onward journey.  Meals B